30 beauty products every woman in her 30s should have in her beauty kit

The essentials and some more

How you look after your skin in your 30s sets the base for the following years to come. While it’s ideal to start to pay extra attention to your skin and the beauty products you use in your 20s itself, your 30s are still a good time to start with the preventive measures. This is the decade to up your skincare regime with potent ingredients, haircare routine with intensive treatments, body care products that work a little harder than your daily wash, and makeup that does more than just cover and conceal. Here’s our edit of 30 beauty products every woman in her 30s should own.

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A gentle face wash

This is the most basic of beauty needs (besides your toothpaste and brush, that is) and one that’s not too hard to figure out either. Get yourself a face wash that promises to be easy on your skin and cleanses without drying it of natural oils.What to buy: Natio Aromatherapy Pure And Gentle Cleansing Cream, Rs 955

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A microfoliant

Amongst other issues, you’ll notice your skin starts to look a little duller as you get older. Revive it with a brightening face scrub twice a week to start your day with a fresh glow.What to buy: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Rs 3,495

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A vitamin C serum

Dark spots and pigmentation start to sprout up once you hit your 30s. The best way to tackle them? A vitamin C serum, after you cleanse and before you moisturise, helps clear out any discolouration and gives you an even skin tone. However, make sure you always use a sunscreen over it after your moisturiser, as it does make your skin photosensitive.What to buy: Valentia Even Glow Serum, Rs 2,795.

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A hydrating moisturiser

This is the absolute essential—your skin’s moisture level start to plummet as you get older and it’s important to give it a dose of hyaluronic acid in the form of a serum or a moisturiser. Drier skin can make the signs of ageing appear prominent, so don’t skip this step.What to buy: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, Rs 2,750

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A broad-spectrum sunscreen

It’s the most important beauty product and with regular use, will actually save you the trouble of signing up for dermat treatments to target skin concerns like pigmentation, fine lines and pre-mature wrinkles. Make sure the one you choose provides UVA and UVB protection.What to buy: Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 50+, Rs 549

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An eye cream

Eye creams become even more important as you move from decade to decade. The fast-paced lifestyle, lack of sleep and general life stressors are instantly visible in the form of dark circles and under-eye bags. Make sure you use a peptide-rich cream every night to look after your peepers.What to buy: Ahava Time To Hydrate Gentle Eye Cream, Rs 2,590

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A face oil

Face oils are good for you—we promise. The rosehip variety is perfect for all skin types, won’t make you break out and makes sure you wake up with a radiant glow; need we say more? Use it once a week, right before you hit the sack.What to buy: Purearth Illumine Face Elixir Oil, Rs 8,200. Available on Beautysource.in

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A nourishing face mask

Make this a part of your weekend self-pampering session. There’s nothing like a nutrient-rich face mask to prep you for the upcoming week.What to buy: Innisfree Real Grapefruit Mask, Rs 900

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A gentle makeup remover

Any sort of harsh tugging or pulling of the skin will only make the barrier weaker and work against you in the long run. Use a gentle makeup remover to get rid of the day and keep your skin feeling fresh.What to buy: Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Hydrating Cleansing Milk, Rs 600

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A night cream

Having a set morning skincare routine is imperative, but you should have one for the nights as well. Invest in a night moisturiser that’ll work on your skin when it regenerates the fastest: when you’re asleep.What to buy: Boscia Super Charge Overnight Moisture, Rs 3,720

A multi-purpose cream

A toning body oil

While it’s unfortunate that there isn’t a beauty product to give us instantly toned skin, you can couple your workouts with a massage using a toning body oil once a week. This will help reduce cellulite and stimulate blood circulation too.What to buy: The Body Shop Spa Of The World Thai Makrut Lime Firming Oil, Rs 2,495

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A relaxing bath and body oil

Everybody loves taking time off for themselves—if it were up to us, we’d be heading to spas at least once a week for some me-time. For a more economic and doable option, get yourself a relaxing bath and body oil that you can use in your tub or even to up your regular shower.What to buy: Forest Essentials Moisture Replenishing Bath & Shower Oil – Bengal Tuberose, Rs 1,795

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An anti-cellulite body scrub

While a regular body scrub is great to get rid of dead skin, the dimples on your thighs and the body’s water retention properties could use an extra something once a week. An anti-cellulite body scrub smoothens out your body and gives your limbs as much definition as possible, without a workout, that is.What to buy: SkinYoga Coffee Body Scrub, Rs 1,795

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A moisturising shampoo

If you spent most of your 20s blow-drying, colouring and straightening your hair, it’s time you get yourself a shampoo that replenishes your mane and keeps it hydrated.What to buy: Sans[ceuticals] Nourishing Hair Wash, Rs 2,425

A hair serum

Even if you wash and condition every two days, just like you moisturise your face and body, your hair needs an everyday serum too. Plus, with all the environmental stress it goes through—sun, dust and humidity—can you blame it for needing a daily pump?What to buy: Wella Professionals Elements Hair Strengthening Serum, Rs 1,500

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A mineral-based foundation

While it’s most important to get your skincare right, it’s also time to move on from that first foundation you bought and never stopped using out of habit. Make sure whatever you use, its non-comodogenic (doesn’t block your pores) and not too heavy on your skin either.What to buy: Elizabeth Arden Finish Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 20, RS 3,550

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An under-eye concealer

Your under-eye concealer needs to do more than just cover—it should also moisturise the skin around your eyes and make you look well-rested. Choose wisely.What to buy: TheBalm TimeBalm Concealer, Rs 1,299

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A plumping lipstick

We know you’re used to mindlessly picking up the first lipstick you can think of, wearing it and stepping out the door. Give it some thought and start to invest in lipsticks that come with natural oils and butters that’ll plump your lips and keep them in top shape, while adding colour.What to buy: Faces Ultra Moist Lipstick, Rs 549

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A highlighter pen/pencil

This one’s a makeup artist secret—get yourself a highlighter pen or pencil and use it on your brow bone, inner corners of your eyes and your cupid’s bow and blend well to instantly look awake, fresher and more youthful.What to buy: NYX Professional Makeup Hydra Touch Brightener, Rs 950

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A lash-boosting mascara

Mascara brings out the best of everyone’s eyes and is the finishing touch to every eye makeup look. Get one with peptides in it that’ll also boost lash growth.What to buy: Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Lash Enhancing Mascara, Rs 1,720

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A glow-boosting blush

You don’t need to go OTT with a separate blush and highlighter if you don’t want to. Instead, wear a blush with a pearly finish.What to buy: Note Terracotta Blusher, Rs 850

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A priming face oil

You’ve probably noticed this one all over Instagram. Moisturiser your skin with a priming face oil as opposed to a regular cream for a radiant finish even before you get to your foundation. The fact that they usually come with good for skin ingredients doesn’t hurt either.What to buy: Indulgeo Essentials Rose Gold Daily Oil, Rs 2,300

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A gel eyeliner

Gel eyeliners are the best kind—they don’t budge, allow you to create any desired eye makeup looks and are very easy to use. Invest in one you’re comfortable using so you can line-and-dash in no time.What to buy: L’Oréal Paris Super Liner Gel Intenza 36H, Rs 875

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A colour-correcting palette

Pigmentation, acne scars and dullness are some of the most common skin problems in your 30s. While treating these concerns takes time, colour correcting palettes comes with the right hues (orange/salmon for dark spots, green for redness and purple for dullness) to help mask them, followed by concealer, of course.What to buy: Maybelline New York Master Camo Color Correction Kit, Rs 950

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A brow pencil

Brow power is everything—you won’t realise it until you actually fill your brows in for the first time. Also, the fuller your brows, the younger you look.What to buy: Nykaa Brow Chika Wow Eyebrow Pencil, Rs 399

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A face mist

It’s the best way to give yourself a boost of freshness in the middle of the day, keeps your skin hydrated in humid weather and helps your makeup last longer. Enough said.What to buy: Estée Lauder Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist, Rs 2,500

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A signature fragrance

This one’s a no-brainer. Everyone has their own scent that they come to be known by. It could be fruity, spicy or heady, depending on what you prefer. Want to try a new one anyway? Here’s our pick.What to buy: Bulgari Goldea The Roman Night EDP, Rs 5,750